Chapter 6, Game Changer

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to slow the rhythm of my breathing but at the same time pricked my ear to hear the hushed conversation before me.

"Father…" Kyoya started in a hushed tone before he was cut off by a deeper quieter voice. He tried to interrupt now and then but his voice was failing. The angry voice of his father spoke rapidly like a swarm of angry wasps buzzing in the back of my mind, considering I couldn't make out what he was saying. I peeked and opened one eye just a little and saw Kyoya standing there with the door ajar, the shadow falling across his fathers face giving him a demonic look. Kyoya's fist was tense at his side and I closed my eyes again, hoping that everything would be okay.

"Thankyou for taking the time to come down Father, I heed your warning and take your advice to heart"

"Good, remember the weight of our family rests on your shoulders, we can afford no mistakes."

"Very good sir, will I see you at dinner?"

"I shouldn't think so, I have more important things to do then to amuse children."

"Of course" Kyoya replied, his voice calm and he stood there a second his shoulders straight before slumping forward and putting his hand against the doorframe. When his father's footsteps had disappeared down the hallway he closed the door gently and pressed his fingers to his temples and massaged his head. I opened my eyes and watched him, concerned about how he was feeling and what his father must have been talking about. I opened my mouth unsure whether or not to speak and break his concentration, it seemed as if he had entirely forgotten my presence. Deciding from what we had just discussed, it would be okay if I spoke. I quietly called his name and his eyes flicked open suddenly and frowned seeing me in his bed, his expression unsure and I bit my lip in confusion.

"Are you okay?" I asked, sitting up. He surveyed the room and sighed as if weighing up something in his mind. He looked at me again and took a step forward before pivoting and deciding against it. He turned his back from me and retained his rigid figure.

"I think it would be best if you left, please do not attempt to talk to me for the rest of the evening and possibly tomorrow as well. I need some space."

His voice trailed off slightly weaker then what it was when it started. I walked over to him and went to put my hand on his shoulder,

"Sempai-"

"I thought I told you to leave!" He yelled, spinning around and catching my hand in his. His eyes fuming and his teeth bore like a rabid dog. I'd never been afraid of him, but now seeing him in this rage I was taken aback. "What, don't like it when you are taken off guard?" He smirked and released my hand carelessly. His face was twisted in pain but also in bitterness. I quivered and let my shaky hand drop to my side, I could feel the water well up in my eyes but I turned away from him before he could witness a drop fall. I felt his hand on my shoulder and I flinched away but he ran in front of me and gripped my shoulders.

"I'm sorry Haruhi, I truly am" he whispered, and I looked up into his soft eyes, "I'll make it better I promise, I'll buy you the biggest flower arrangement and most beautiful necklace I can find" he murmured, looking deep into my eyes watching me for a reaction. I swallowed, too shaken to tell him I couldn't care less about flowers and jewelry. He leant forward to kiss me and I pulled myself up to him, craving his body and his apologetic, slow kisses. I felt the strap of my dress fall off my shoulder but I didn't make a move to push it back again.

Kyoya broke away from the kiss and laughed, it was a cruel laugh that didn't match his rich chuckle I was used to. I opened my eyes and gazed into the smoky, calculating eyes opposite me, he observed my body and his eyes lingered on my bare shoulder. He threw me down on the bed and I gasped but didn't object. My mind was gone, I didn't really know what to expect, confused by what had happened but not so much that I refused the passion that he created.

There was another knock at the door and Kyoya broke away, not even telling me to pretend to be asleep this time. I lay there limp on the top of his duvet and slowed my breathing. Kyoya opened the door and laughed.

"Is she alright?"

"Yes she is fine, she fainted again"

"That's why she is in your bed?"

"Yes. Of course! Why else?"

"Why'd you storm out from Tamaki?"

"I…I don't think it is at all professional for us as hosts to develop feelings for Haruhi, especially when we have clients coming to join us soon. It's a stupid idea, the feelings will need to be suppressed before they get out of hand and he gets caught."

I felt a small knife stab into my gut and blow the wind out of me; he clearly wasn't talking about Tamaki anymore. It's a stupid idea. Cut it out Haruhi! Since when are you hurt this easily! You only decided you had feelings for him today, you can switch those feelings off. You can do it, he is right it's a stupid idea. You are here to pay your debt and do well at school, not to fall in love. But maybe…maybe this was all an act; I mean he could just be saying these things to get Hikaru out of the room…he didn't have to be so blunt though.

"But Kyoya…"

"But nothing Hikaru, we had this discussion in the beginning. No one falls for Haruhi"

"Kyoya, wait…"

"What?"

"Are you sure you weren't angry at Tamaki, because maybe…you have feelings for Haruhi too?"

I strained my ears and held my breath, the silence was deafening.

"Not in the slightest, she is a wonderful young lady Hikaru, but do you really believe I could let myself fall for a peasant, let alone a peasant who throws herself at anyone who promises her money?"

"You don't mean that…"

"I do. Why do you think she hasn't left the host club? She made it clear she hated it, but as soon as she has the slightest idea that maybe one of us wants to be romantically involved she claims this is her home! She is below us Hikaru; we need to stop forgetting that she is not one of us. When we finish school we will go on to take over major cooperation's and she will struggle as a family lawyer in a middle-class environment. We are from different worlds."

Clenching my jaw and clamping my eyes shut, the rage bubbled within me mixed with a more raw emotion of pure betrayal, even if this was just an act it had ripped me right down to the core. I wanted nothing more to go up and shove him aside demanding what the hell he had meant by that…

But I had to stay in the bed though, Kyoya said it was important and I trusted his judgment…

Wait…no I didn't. How dare he say I was below him? That I was in this for the money?! I knew this was the way he felt all along! I was just a game to him, he just wanted to see if he could get me, so naïve, so easily fooled to fall in love with him. Or to prove I had other motives! Why should I trust and listen to him now? I slowly got up from the bed gripping the edge tightly. Hikaru and Kyoya continued bickering and didn't seem to notice that I was awake. I walked slowly over to them, it was only when I was a few steps away I saw Hikaru's face pale. He watched me tap Kyoya on the shoulder.

Kyoya's body tensed and he turned around slowly, his dark eyes like stone and I stared straight into them for a sign of regret, maybe even a plea to not believe what he had just said. Any resemblance to the Kyoya that had held me in his arms not 20 minutes ago was gone. This man was cold, hard and unforgiving. He had meant every word he had said and he looked down at me with contempt and disgust.

"Haruhi...we…" Hikaru started, reaching forward for my shoulder. I flinched away from his touch and continued to stare down Kyoya. My hand clenched tightly in a little fist, I sprung forward with the intention of hitting him hard in the jaw. Like lightening his hand reached up and blocked mine and I fell to the floor, confused and embarrassed. Hikaru made a start to come to my side but Kyoya held up his hand and shook his head.

"Leave her, she is clearly not feeling well. Haruhi, show yourself out when you feel up to it. And please don't let that temper of yours destroy anything in this room, we wouldn't want your debt to increase."